Cadiz style by La Primitiva, Bs Aires c.1905.
Cadiz style playing cards produced by or for La Primitiva, Victoria 3179, Buenos Aires c.1905. The cards have the black 'Mercury' tax stamp on the four of cups.
La Primitiva, Victoria 3179, Buenos Aires c.1878-1920, manufacturers of paper and playing cards.
Also at Moreno 248 and Defensa 125, Bs. As.
La Primitiva was registered as a paper mill in 1878. The cards shown below date from the early 1900s and have the black 'Mercury' tax stamp on the four of cups. The reverse has a red trellis pattern. The design of the cards matches the Cádiz-Catalan style pattern made by Sebastian Comas y Ricart (Barcelona, Spain) so was likely manufactured by Comas and customised for La Primitiva. This colourful design pattern continued to be imported into Argentina for many years, see later example here►
Above: Cadiz-Catalan style playing cards manufactured by Sebastian Comas y Ricart (Barcelona) for La Primitiva, Buenos Aires, c.1905
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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